The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-09-30
A SPECIMEN WITNESS.

Col. Ohm u. Relh, New 7 Ork broker,
was witness before the Pacific Rail
roads investigating commission on
Thursday. The colonel wanted it under
stood that be was not there Voluntarily,
but was an unwilling witness, having
been dragged before the commission
against his will. This preface conveyed
the impression that Colonel Reiff
WAS loaded to the muzzie with
KIN owledge of grong-doing on the part
of the Pacific Railroads, but owing to
the peculiar relations which had ex
listed between himself and the COM
panies Tor the Union Pacific company,
| that being the only one of which he
knew anything) he did not want to tes-
tify. He conveyed the idea that he was
actuated by sense of honor in not
giving away" men, although these
same men had hurt him severely. Ii
was not spirit of forgiveness and for
getfulness which prompted him. but
rather desire to return good for evil,
as it were. 1t soon became apparent,
however, that Notwithstanding his pro-
testations to the contrary, Col. Reitf
was not only not an unwilling witness.
but was really the most willing witness
who has appeared before the commits
sion. His readiness to tell was bounded
only by his knowledge of something to
tell. What he knew he reeied off as glibly
as though he had been rehearsing it for
years, and he showed plainly that he
regretted that he didn't know some
thing which would injure the company
and its managers. Roiied down to the
essence, Colonel ReifFs testimony
amounted to absolutely nothing. He
knew OF no crookedness and coulG
point out no act that had been per
lo-med which should subject the Union
Pacific magnates to prosecution, if even
to censure. He had grievance whicl
seemed to run against Jay Gould, bui
what that had to do with the failure OF
the Union Pacific to live up to the law,
of Congress, did not appear. Perhaps
if the truth were to come out, it would |
be learned that Colonel Reif had been
caught on the wrong side of one of Jay |
Gould's deals and been badly squeezed
and unlike Cyrus Field, he WASH,
disposed to issue to Gould certificate
OF good character for having pinched
him.
Colonel Reif held ideas and opinions, |
but these were not testimony. 1t was
not evidence that the Union Pacific had |
been corruptly managed for the Colonel
to declare that if there were thirteen |
directors in a board and Gould was
enc of them, Gould would have his own
way. That was simply saying that
Gould was persuasive and more force
ful than the twelve other directors. |
Nor was 1t conclusive that the Union
Pacific was scoundrelly concern for
Colonel Reiff to note that men who
fought the company in Congress were
afterwards its paid employ es. This was
simply evidence that the managers
the road sometimes considered it
cheaper to hire than to fight certain
men.
Colonel Reiff seems to be fair ex
ample of the demagogues who have
been and are making war on
the Pacific railways. Doubtless,
# he were in Congress, he would
declare against the corruption and
'windling of the subsidized companies,
and would call for Investigations and
but when called upon for
anything with which to back up his
charges, would have to confess tina. his
were based upon mere sus-
oicions.
We are heartily glad that Congress
will soon assemble, by which time it Is
hoped the commission will have con-
;luded It's useless labors and prepared
is report, when the National Legisla-
Azure may be able to understand that
is constant assaults on the subsidized
'oads are working much greater injury
han good, and are really delaying the
settlement of the companies indebted
less to the government.